Sweet Itch (Queensland Itch) in Horses

You will find your horse or pony intensely itching (called pruritus), which causes them to rub on anything and creates sores, sometimes with infection setting in. Control it can be a problem, with your main efforts focused on preventing the bites and treating the sores. Research indicated that this problem my run in families of horses showing the allergy.

Common Names for Sweet Itch (USA) are Queensland Itch (Australia), Summer Eczema and Seasonal Dermatitis. Culicoides flies, which breed in wet land, rivers, lakes and standing water are the cause of this irritation. Symptoms include weeping blisters; crusting, scabs and scaling; constant rubbing and biting; and potentially hair loss and skin damage.

Left: Here you can see clearly the sores caused by his scratching. There is little you can do to stop it, we use fly spray, treat the sore spots with a hydrocortizone cream, and keep him out of the pasture where this problem first developed.

Right: You can see that the tail head is missing some hair, and he has odd spots of missing hair on his flanks, armpits, face and scattered across his body.

Treatment

Your Vet may be able to use drugs (e.g. corticosteroids) to control the problem, but good insect control is your best defense.

• Stable the horse from 4.00pm until 8.00 am.
• Use blankets, sheets, hoods to provide some protection.
• Apply sponge on fly repellents often twice daily application may be required.
• Use a very fine fly screen over the stable door.
• Increase airflow by using a fan in the stable.
• Move the horse away from wooded and wet areas.